Slim backlight unit for holographic display device and holographic display device including the same

ABSTRACT

A backlight unit for a binocular-holographic display device and a holographic display device including the same are provided. The backlight unit includes a light source unit which outputs light, a first beam expansion unit which expands, in a first direction, the light output from the light source unit, a second beam expansion unit which expands, in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, the light output from the first beam expansion unit, and a beam deflection unit which diffracts light incident on the first beam expansion unit. The holographic display device includes the backlight unit, a field lens, and a spatial light modulator.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser.No. 15/391,298, filed Dec. 27, 2016, which claims priority from KoreanPatent Application No. 10-2016-0094826, filed on Jul. 26, 2016, in theKorean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which isincorporated herein in its entirety by reference.

BACKGROUND 1. Field

Apparatuses consistent with exemplary embodiments relate to a backlightunit and a holographic display device including the same, and moreparticularly, a slim backlight unit for a binocular-holographic displaydevice and a slim-holographic display device including the same.

2. Description of the Related Art

Methods of realizing three-dimensional (3D) images such glasses-typemethods and non-glasses-type methods are widely used. Examples ofglasses-type methods include polarizing glasses-type methods and shutterglasses-type methods, and examples of the non-glasses-type methodsinclude lenticular methods and parallax barrier methods. These methodsutilized the principle of binocular parallax, and increasing the numberof viewpoints is limited. In addition, these methods may make theviewers feel tired due to the difference between the depth perceived bythe brain and the focus of the eyes.

Recently, holographic display techniques, which are 3D image displaymethods capable of making the depth perceived by the brain consistentwith the focus of the eyes and providing full parallax, have beengradually put to practical use. According to a holographic displaytechnique, when reference light is irradiated onto a hologram pattern,having recorded thereon an interference pattern obtained by interferencebetween object light reflected from an original object and the referencelight, the reference light is diffracted and an image of the originalobject is reproduced. When a currently-commercialized holographicdisplay technique is used, a computer-generated hologram (CGH), ratherthan a hologram pattern obtained by directly exposing an original objectto light, is provided as an electric signal to a spatial lightmodulator. Then, the spatial light modulator forms a hologram patternand diffracts reference light according to the input CGH signal, therebygenerating a 3D image.

However, a very high resolution spatial light modulator and a very largeamount of data processing are required to implement a perfectholographic display technique. Recently, to relax the requirements fordata processing amount and for resolution, a binocular hologramtechnique of providing hologram images to only a viewing zonecorresponding to both eyes of the observer has been proposed. Forexample, a hologram image having a viewpoint corresponding to a left-eyeviewing zone of the observer and a hologram image having a viewpointcorresponding to a right-eye viewing zone of the observer are generatedand provided to the left and right eyes of the observer, respectively.No hologram image for other viewpoints is generated, and thus, the dataprocessing amount may be greatly reduced, and a currently-commercializeddisplay apparatus may satisfy a resolution condition of the spatiallight modulator.

SUMMARY

One or more exemplary embodiments may provide a slim backlight unit fora binocular-holographic display device and a slim-holographic displaydevice including the same.

Additional exemplary aspects and advantages will be set forth in part inthe description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from thedescription, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

According to an aspect of an exemplary embodiment, a backlight unitincludes a light source unit configured to provide light, a first beamexpansion unit configured to expand the light provided from the lightsource unit in a first direction and thereby output light with aline-shaped cross section, the first beam expansion unit including afirst light guide plate transmitting light in the first direction, asecond beam expansion unit configured to expand the light with theline-shaped cross section, output from the first beam expansion unit, ina second direction perpendicular to the first direction, therebyoutputting light with a rectangular cross section, the second beamexpansion unit including a second light guide plate transmitting lightin the second direction, and a beam deflection unit disposed on anoptical path between the light source unit and the first beam expansionunit, the beam deflection unit being configured to two-dimensionallycontrol a path of the light incident thereon.

The first and second beam expansion units may be disposed in a sameplane.

The light source unit may include a first light source unit configuredto provide light of a first wavelength, a second light source unitconfigured to provide light of a second wavelength that is differentfrom the first wavelength, and a third light source unit configured toprovide light of a third wavelength that is different from the first andsecond wavelengths.

The first, second, and third light source units may be sequentiallydisposed along the second direction facing a side surface of the firstlight guide plate.

The first beam expansion unit may include a first input couplerconfigured to transmit the light of the first wavelength into the firstlight guide plate, a first output coupler configured to emit the lightof the first wavelength from the first light guide plate, a second inputcoupler configured to transmit the light of the second wavelength intothe first light guide plate, a second output coupler configured to emitthe light of the second wavelength from the first light guide plate, athird input coupler configured to transmit the light of the thirdwavelength into the first light guide plate, and a third output couplerconfigured to emit the light of the third wavelength from the firstlight guide plate.

The first beam expansion unit may further include a mirror configured toreflect the light of the first wavelength output from the first outputcoupler, a first dichroic mirror configured to reflect the light of thesecond wavelength output from the second output coupler and transmit thelight of the first wavelength, and a second dichroic mirror configuredto reflect the light of the third wavelength output from the thirdoutput coupler and transmit the light of the first and secondwavelengths.

The beam deflection unit may include a first horizontal beam deflectorand a first vertical beam deflector configured to face the first inputcoupler and adjust an angle of the light of the first wavelengthincident on the first input coupler, a second horizontal beam deflectorand a second vertical beam deflector configured to face the second inputcoupler and adjust an angle of the light of the second wavelengthincident on the second input coupler, and a third horizontal beamdeflector and a third vertical beam deflector configured to face thethird input coupler and adjust an angle of the light of the thirdwavelength incident on the third input coupler.

At least one of the first horizontal beam deflector and the firstvertical beam deflector may be a liquid crystal deflector whichdiffracts light incident thereon and thereby outputs two light beams atdifferent respective angles. At least one of the second horizontal beamdeflector and the second vertical beam deflector may be a liquid crystaldeflector which diffracts light incident thereon and thereby outputs twolight beams at different respective angles. At least one of the thirdhorizontal beam deflector and the third vertical beam deflector may be aliquid crystal deflector which diffracts light incident thereon andthereby outputs two light beams at different respective angles.

The first, second, and through third horizontal beam deflectors may besequentially disposed along the second direction on the first lightguide plate. The first, second, and third vertical beam deflectors maybe respectively and sequentially disposed in the second direction on thefirst light guide plate. The first, second, and third output couplersmay be respectively and sequentially disposed in the second direction onthe first light guide plate.

The second beam expansion unit may include a fourth input couplerconfigured to transmit light from the first beam expansion unit into thesecond light guide plate, and a fourth output coupler configured to emitlight from the second light guide plate.

The second beam expansion unit may further include a mirror configuredto reflect light from the first beam expansion unit to the fourth inputcoupler.

The first and second beam expansion units may be rotatable with respectto each other and the mirror may be adjustable according to a relativeangle between the first and second beam expansion units.

The first beam expansion unit may be disposed under the second beamexpansion unit to face the fourth input coupler.

The first beam expansion unit may include a first wavelength beamexpansion unit configured to expand the light of the first wavelengthprovided from the first light source unit in a first direction andthereby output light with a line-shaped cross section, a secondwavelength beam expansion unit disposed on the first wavelength beamexpansion unit, the second wavelength beam expansion unit beingconfigured to expand the light of the second wavelength provided fromthe first light source unit in a first direction and thereby outputlight with a line-shaped cross section, and a third wavelength beamexpansion unit disposed on the third wavelength beam expansion unit, thethird wavelength beam expansion unit being configured to expand thelight of the third wavelength provided from the first light source unitin a first direction and thereby output light with a line-shaped crosssection.

The first wavelength beam expansion unit may include a first wavelengthlight guide plate, and a first input coupler and a first output couplerdisposed on an upper surface of the first wavelength light guide plate,the second wavelength beam expansion unit may include a secondwavelength light guide plate, the second input coupler and the secondoutput coupler disposed on an upper surface of the second wavelengthlight guide plate, the third wavelength beam expansion unit may includea third wavelength light guide plate, the third input coupler and thethird output coupler disposed on an upper surface of the thirdwavelength light guide plate, and the first, second, and third outputcouplers may overlap the fourth input coupler in a view as seen fromabove.

The first light source unit may be disposed to face a first side surfaceof the first light guide plate, the second light source unit may bedisposed to face a second side surface of the second light guide plateopposite the first side surface, and the third light source unit may bedisposed to face the first side surface of the third light guide plate,and the first and third wavelength light guide plates may be shifted ina first direction with respect to the second wavelength light guideplate.

The second wavelength light guide plate may be longer than the thirdwavelength light guide plate and may protrude in a first direction withrespect to the third wavelength light guide plate, and the firstwavelength light guide plate may be longer than the second wavelengthlight guide plate and may protrude in the first direction with respectto the second wavelength light guide plate.

The first beam expansion unit may include two first input couplersconfigured to transmit the light of the first wavelength into the firstlight guide plate and respectively disposed on first and second edges ofan upper surface of the first light guide plate, a first output couplerconfigured to emit the light of the first wavelength from the firstlight guide plate, two second input couplers configured to transmit thelight of the second wavelength into the first light guide plate andrespectively disposed on the first and second edges of the upper surfaceof the first light guide plate, a second output coupler configured toemit the light of the second wavelength from the first light guideplate, two third input couplers configured to transmit the light of thethird wavelength into the first light guide plate and respectivelydisposed on the first and second edges of the upper surface of the firstlight guide plate, and a third output coupler configured to emit thelight of the third wavelength from the first light guide plate.

The beam deflection unit may include two first horizontal beamdeflectors and two first vertical beam deflectors configured to face thefirst input coupler and adjust an angle of the light of the firstwavelength incident on the first input coupler, and respectivelydisposed on the first and second edges of the upper surface of the firstlight guide plate, two second horizontal beam deflectors and two secondvertical beam deflectors configured to face the second input coupler andadjust an angle of the light of the second wavelength incident on thesecond input coupler, and respectively disposed on the first and secondedges of the upper surface of the first light guide plate, and two thirdhorizontal beam deflectors and two third vertical beam deflectorsconfigured to face the third input coupler and adjust an angle of thelight of the third wavelength incident on the third input coupler, andrespectively disposed on the first and second edges of the upper surfaceof the first light guide plate.

The first, second, and third light source units may be disposed on asame side surface of the first light guide plate.

Each of the first, second, and third light source units may bealternately disposed on the first and second side surfaces of the firstlight guide plate.

According to an aspect of another exemplary embodiment, a holographicdisplay device includes a light source unit configured to output acoherent light beam, a first beam expansion unit configured to expandthe light beam provided from the light source unit in a first directionand thereby output light with a line-shaped cross section, the firstbeam expansion unit including a first light guide plate transmittinglight in the first direction, a second beam expansion unit configured toexpand the light with a line-shaped cross section provided from thefirst beam expansion unit in a second direction perpendicular to thefirst direction and thereby output light with a rectangular crosssection, the second beam expansion unit including a second light guideplate transmitting light in the second direction, a beam deflection unitdisposed on an optical path between the light source unit and the firstbeam expansion unit, the beam deflection unit being configured totwo-dimensionally control a path of light incident thereon, a spatiallight modulator configured to diffract incident light and reproduce ahologram image, and a field lens configured to focus the hologram imagereproduced by the spatial light modulator onto a predetermined space.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and/or other exemplary aspects and advantages will become apparentand more readily appreciated from the following description of theembodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a holographic display deviceaccording to an exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a specific configuration of theholographic display device of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in a width direction of the holographicdisplay device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal direction of theholographic display device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of first and second beam expansionunits rotating with respect to each other in the holographic displaydevice of FIG. 2;

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in a width direction of a holographicdisplay device according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a configuration of a holographic displaydevice according to another exemplary embodiment;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a configuration of a holographic displaydevice according to another exemplary embodiment; and

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in a width direction of a holographicdisplay device according to another exemplary embodiment.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Reference will now be made in detail to exemplary embodiments which areillustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein like referencenumerals refer to like elements throughout. In this regard, the presentexemplary embodiments may have different forms and should not beconstrued as being limited to the descriptions set forth herein.Accordingly, the exemplary embodiments are merely described below, byreferring to the figures, to explain aspects.

Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a slimbacklight unit for a holographic display device and a holographicdisplay device including the same will be described in detail likereference numerals refer to like elements throughout, and in thedrawings, sizes of elements may be exaggerated for clarity andconvenience of explanation. The embodiments described below are merelyexemplary, and various modifications may be possible from theembodiments. In a layer structure described below, an expression such as“above” or “on” may include not only the meaning of “immediatelyon/under/to the left/to the right in a contact manner”, but also themeaning of “on/under/to the left/to the right in a non-contact manner”.

FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a holographic display device100 according to an exemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1, theholographic display device 100 according to this exemplary embodimentmay include first and second housings 101 and 102 that are foldableabout a hinge 103. The first housing 101 may generate a hologram imagethrough a spatial light modulator, described below, and may project thehologram image on a predetermined space. According to the presentembodiment, the holographic display device 100 may provide a left-eye LEand a right-eye RE of an observer with hologram images having differentviewpoints, respectively, by using a binocular hologram technique. Forexample, the holographic display device 100 may provide a hologram imagefor the left-eye to a left-eye LE viewing zone of an observer, and mayprovide a hologram image for the right-eye to a right-eye RE viewingzone of the observer, wherein a viewpoint of the hologram image for theright-eye is different from that of the hologram image for the left-eye.

Unlike images for the left-eye and images for the right-eye according toa stereoscopic technique, the hologram images for the left-eye andright-eye provided from the holographic display device 100 may enablethe observer to perceive a three-dimensional (3D) effect independentlywhile having different viewpoints. The stereoscopic technique mayprovide a 3D effect by using binocular parallax when a two-dimensional(2D) image for the left-eye and a 2D image for the right-eye, which havedifferent viewpoints, are respectively perceived by the left and righteyes of an observer. Therefore, according to the stereoscopic technique,a 3D effect may not be generated by only one of the images for theleft-eye and the images for the right-eye, and, in such a situation, theobserver may feel tired due to the difference between the depthperceived by the brain and the focus of the eyes. Meanwhile, theholographic display device 100 may respectively form a hologram imagefor the left-eye and a hologram image for the right-eye in apredetermined space, that is, a left-eye LE viewing zone and a right-eyeRE viewing zone of the observer, and thus, the depth perceived by thebrain may coincide with the focus of the eyes and full parallax may beprovided. The holographic display device 100 according to the presentembodiment provides only a binocular viewpoint because an observer mayperceive only two viewpoints with left and right eyes, and thus, mayreduce a data processing amount by removing remaining viewpointinformation except for viewpoint information perceived by the observer.

FIG. 2 is a detailed perspective view of a specific configuration of theholographic display device 100 of FIG. 1. Referring to FIG. 2, theholographic display device 100 according to the present embodiment mayinclude a light source unit 120 providing one or more coherent lightbeams, a first beam expansion unit 110 expanding the one or more lightbeams in a first direction and providing light having a line-shapedcross section, a second beam expansion unit 160 expanding the light withthe line-shaped cross section in a second direction perpendicular to thefirst direction and providing light having a rectangular cross section,a beam deflection unit 170 disposed in an optical path between the lightsource unit 120 and the first beam expansion unit 110 andtwo-dimensionally controlling a path of light incident thereon, aspatial light modulator 200 diffracting incident light and reproducing ahologram image, and a field lens 210 focusing the hologram imagereproduced by the spatial light modulator 200 on a predetermined space.FIG. 2 illustrates that the field lens 210 is disposed between thespatial light modulator 200 and the second beam expansion unit 160, butthe position of the field lens 210 is not limited thereto. For example,the field lens 210 may alternately be disposed in front of the spatiallight modulator 200.

The light source unit 120, the first beam expansion unit 110, and thesecond beam expansion unit 160 may constitute the backlight unit of theholographic display device 100. The light source unit 120 and the firstbeam expansion unit 110 may be disposed in the first housing 101 of FIG.1, and the second beam expansion unit 160, the field lens 210, and thespatial light modulator 200 may be disposed in the second housing 102.Though not shown in FIG. 2, various control circuits generating an imagesignal and including an image signal processor may be distributed in oneor both of the first and second housings 101 and 102.

The light source unit 120 may include a first light source unit 120 aproviding light of a first wavelength, a second light source unit 120 bproviding light of a second wavelength that is different from the firstwavelength, and a third light source unit 120 c providing light of athird wavelength that is different from the first and secondwavelengths. For example, the first through third light source units 120a to 120 c may respectively provide light of different wavelengths suchas blue, green, and red light. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the firstthrough third light source units 120 a to 120 c may be disposed facing aside surface of the first beam expansion unit 110, and may besequentially disposed in a longitudinal direction, that is, an −xdirection, as shown in FIG. 2.

The first light source unit 120 a may include a first light source 121 aemitting light of a first wavelength, a first light transmission member122 a transmitting the light of the first wavelength emitted from thefirst light source 121 a, a first light output member 123 a outputtingthe light of the first wavelength to the outside, a first collimatinglens 124 a collimating the light of the first wavelength, and a firstmirror 125 a reflecting the light of the first wavelength to the firstbeam expansion unit 110. Furthermore, the second light source unit 120 bmay include a second light source 121 b emitting light of a secondwavelength, a second light transmission member 122 b transmitting thelight of the second wavelength emitted from the second light source 121b, a second light output member 123 b outputting the light of the secondwavelength to the outside, a second collimating lens 124 b collimatingthe light of the second wavelength, and a second mirror 125 b reflectingthe light of the second wavelength to the first beam expansion unit 110.The third light source unit 120 c may include a third light source 121 cemitting light of a third wavelength, a third light transmission member122 c transmitting the light of the third wavelength emitted from thethird light source 121 c, a third light output member 123 c outputtingthe light of the third wavelength to the outside, a third collimatinglens 124 c collimating the light of the third wavelength, and a thirdmirror 125 c reflecting the light of the third wavelength to the firstbeam expansion unit 110. In such a structure, light emitted from thefirst through third light sources 121 a to 121 c may be expanded to acertain degree by the first through third collimating lenses 124 a to124 c and may be provided to the first beam expansion unit 110.

Laser diodes generating light having high coherence may be used as thefirst through third light sources 121 a to 121 c. However,light-emitting diodes (LEDs) may also be used as the first through thirdlight sources 121 a to 121 c because light may be sufficientlydiffracted and modulated by the spatial light modulator 200 as long asthe light has a certain degree of spatial coherence. Any other lightsources may alternately be used as the first through third light sources121 a to 121 c as long as the light sources emit light that has acertain degree of spatial coherence.

FIG. 2 illustrates that the light of the first through third wavelengthsare finally provided to the first beam expansion unit 110 through themirrors 125 a to 125 c, but the mirrors 125 a to 125 c may be omitteddepending on an exemplary embodiment. For example, the lighttransmission members 122 a to 122 c may be extended to an upper surfaceof the first beam expansion unit 110, and the light output members 123 ato 123 c and the collimating lenses 124 a to 124 c may respectively facethe upper surface of the first beam expansion unit 110. The lighttransmission members 122 a to 122 c may be, for example, optical fiber,but may also be an arrangement of a plurality of mirrors or relaylenses.

The first beam expansion unit 110 converts a light beam provided fromthe light source unit 120 into light having a line-shaped cross sectionby expanding the light beam in a width direction, that is, a ydirection. For example, the first beam expansion unit 110 may include afirst light guide plate 111 including a transparent material andtransmitting light in a width direction thereof by total internalreflection, a first input coupler 133 a transmitting the light of thefirst wavelength in the first light guide plate 111, a first outputcoupler 141 emitting the light of the first wavelength to the outside ofthe first light guide plate 111, a second input coupler 133 btransmitting the light of the second wavelength in the first light guideplate 111, a second output coupler 142 emitting the light of the secondwavelength to the outside of the first light guide plate 111, a thirdinput coupler 133 c transmitting the light of the third wavelength inthe first light guide plate 111, a third output coupler 143 emitting thelight of the third wavelength to the outside of the first light guideplate 111, a fourth mirror 151 reflecting the light of the firstwavelength from the first output coupler 141, a first dichroic mirror152 reflecting the light of the second wavelength from the second outputcoupler 142 and transmitting the light of the first wavelength, and asecond dichroic mirror 153 reflecting the light of the third wavelengthfrom the third output coupler 143 and transmitting the light of thefirst and second wavelengths.

Meanwhile, the beam deflection unit 170 may include first through thirdhorizontal beam deflectors 131 a to 131 c and first through thirdvertical beam deflectors 132 a to 132 c respectively disposed betweenthe mirrors 125 a to 125 c and the input couplers 133 a to 133 c. Inparticular, the horizontal beam deflectors 131 a to 131 c and thevertical beam deflectors 132 a to 132 c may be disposed to respectivelyface the input couplers 133 a to 133 c. The horizontal beam deflectors131 a to 131 c may deflect incident light to adjust a position of thereproduced hologram image in a horizontal direction, and the verticalbeam deflectors 132 a to 132 c may deflect incident light to adjust aposition of the reproduced hologram image in a vertical direction. FIG.2 illustrates that the horizontal beam deflectors 131 a to 131 c aredisposed on the vertical beam deflectors 132 a to 132 c, but may also bedisposed under the vertical beam deflectors 132 a to 132 c.

The light of the first wavelength reflected from the first mirror 125 amay be incident on the first input coupler 133 a after passing throughthe first horizontal beam deflector 131 a and the first vertical beamdeflector 132 a. An incident angle of the light of the first wavelengthincident on the first input coupler 133 a may be adjusted by the firsthorizontal beam deflector 131 a and the first vertical beam deflector132 a. Furthermore, the second horizontal beam deflector 131 b and thesecond vertical beam deflector 132 b may adjust an incident angle of thelight of the second wavelength incident on the second input coupler 133b, and the third horizontal beam deflector 131 c and the third verticalbeam deflector 132 c may adjust an incident angle of the light of thethird wavelength incident on the third input coupler 133 c.

In the same manner as the light source units 120 a to 120 c, thehorizontal beam deflectors 131 a to 131 c, the vertical beam deflectors132 a to 132 c, the input couplers 133 a to 133 c, and the outputcouplers 141 to 143 may be sequentially disposed in a longitudinaldirection, that is, an −x direction, as shown in FIG. 2. FIG. 2illustrates that the input couplers 133 a to 133 c are disposed on anedge of an upper surface of the first light guide plate 111, but theinventive concept is not limited thereto. For example, the inputcouplers 133 a to 133 c may be disposed on a side surface of the firstlight guide plate 111. The horizontal beam deflectors 131 a to 131 c andthe vertical beam deflectors 132 a to 132 c may also be disposed on theside surface of the first light guide plate 111 to face the inputcouplers 133 a to 133 c.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view in a width direction of the holographicdisplay device 100 of FIG. 2. In particular, FIG. 3 illustrates across-section taken in a y direction of the first input coupler 133 aand the first output coupler 141 of the first beam expansion unit 110.Referring to FIG. 3, the light of the first wavelength that entered thefirst light guide plate 111 by the first input coupler 133 a may travelin the first light guide plate 111 in a width direction, that is, a −ydirection, by total reflection. In the process, a portion of the lightof the first wavelength incident on the first output coupler 141 may beemitted to the upper surface of the first light guide plate 111.Therefore, the light of the first wavelength may expand in a widthdirection. The first input coupler 133 a and the first output coupler141 may be diffraction optical elements diffracting and transmittingsome of the incident light.

Meanwhile, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first horizontal beam deflector131 a may be a liquid crystal deflector forming two light beams L1 andL2 traveling at different angles by diffracting the incident light. Thetwo light beams L1 and L2 may be incident on the first input coupler 133a at different angles, and may travel in the first light guide plate 111at different angles. As a result, emission angles of the two light beamsL1 and L2 emitted through the first output coupler 141 may be differentfrom each other. The two light beams L1 and L2 may respectively finallytravel to the left and right eyes of the observer as illustrated in FIG.1 after passing through the second beam expansion unit 160 and thespatial light modulator 200. The first vertical beam deflector 132 a,instead of the first horizontal beam deflector 131 a may be a liquidcrystal deflector, or both the first horizontal beam deflector 131 a andthe first vertical beam deflector 132 a may be liquid crystaldeflectors. The above description of the first horizontal beam deflector131 a, the first vertical beam deflector 132 a, the first input coupler133 a, and the first output coupler 141 related to the light of thefirst wavelength may be applied in the same manner to the secondhorizontal beam deflector 131 b, the second vertical beam deflector 132b, the second input coupler 133 b, and the second output coupler 142related to the light of the second wavelength, and the third horizontalbeam deflector 131 c, the third vertical beam deflector 132 c, the thirdinput coupler 133 c, and the third output coupler 143 related to thelight of the third wavelength.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view in a longitudinal direction of theholographic display device 100 of FIG. 2 to cut center portions of thefirst, second, and third output couplers 141, 142, and 143. Inparticular, FIG. 4 illustrates a cross-section taken in an x directionof a center portion of the first beam expansion unit 110, the secondbeam expansion unit 160, the field lens 210, and the spatial lightmodulator 200. Referring to FIG. 4, the light of the first wavelengthemitted by the first output coupler 141 may be reflected to the secondbeam expansion unit 160 by the fourth mirror 151. Next, the light of thefirst wavelength may be incident on the fifth mirror 155 after beingtransmitted through the first and second dichroic mirrors 152 and 153.Furthermore, the light of the second wavelength emitted by the secondoutput coupler 142 may be reflected to the second beam expansion unit160 by the first dichroic mirror 152. Next, the light of the secondwavelength may be incident on the fifth mirror 155 after beingtransmitted through the second dichroic mirror 153. The light of thethird wavelength emitted by the third output coupler 143 may bereflected to the second beam expansion unit 160 by the second dichroicmirror 153 and may be incident on the fifth mirror 155.

The second beam expansion unit 160 converts light, having a line-shapedcross section, provided from the first beam expansion unit 110, intolight having a rectangular cross section, by expanding the light withthe line-shaped cross section in a longitudinal direction, that is, an xdirection. For example, the second beam expansion unit 160 may include asecond light guide plate 112 including a transparent material andtransmitting light in a longitudinal direction by total reflection, afourth input coupler 113 transmitting light in the second light guideplate 112, a fourth output coupler 114 emitting light to the outside ofthe second light guide plate 112, a fifth mirror 155 reflecting thelight from the first beam expansion unit 110 to the fourth input coupler113.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the light of the first through thirdwavelengths may be incident together on the fourth input coupler 113after being reflected by the fifth mirror 155. The light incident on thesecond light guide plate 112 by the fourth input coupler 113 may travelin the second light guide plate 112 in a longitudinal direction, thatis, an −x direction, by total internal reflection. In other words, thepath of light in the second light guide plate 112 may be perpendicularto the path of light in the first light guide plate 111. In the process,a portion of the light incident on the fourth output coupler 114 may beemitted to the upper surface of the second light guide plate 112.Therefore, light may expand in a longitudinal direction. The fourthinput coupler 113 and the fourth output coupler 114 may be diffractionoptical elements diffracting and transmitting some of the incidentlight.

Lastly, the light emitted from the second beam expansion unit 160 may beincident on the spatial light modulator 200 through the field lens 210.The spatial light modulator 200 may form a hologram pattern with aninterference fringe for modulating the incident light. A hologram imagemay be reproduced on a predetermined space by diffracting and modulatingthe incident light by the hologram pattern formed in the spatial lightmodulator 200.

According to the inventive concept, a slim-backlight unit may bemanufactured because the first and second beam expansion units 110 and160 are disposed in the same plane. Therefore, it is possible tomanufacture a binocular holographic display device 100 providingholographic images with different viewpoints to two respective viewingzones with a small thickness. Furthermore, since a backlight unitaccording to the present exemplary embodiment may simultaneously deflectthe two light beams L1 and L2, the two light beams L1 and L2 havingdifferent paths may be simultaneously provided to the spatial lightmodulator 200 by using a space division method instead of a timedivision method, and thus, quality of the hologram images may beimproved. Furthermore, color dispersion may be suppressed since thefirst beam expansion unit 110 expands and deflects each of the light ofthe first through third wavelengths.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the first and second beam expansionunits 110 and 160 rotating with respect to each other in the holographicdisplay device 100 of FIGS. 1 and 2. As described in FIG. 1, the firstand second housings 101 and 102 may be foldable with respect to eachother through the hinge 103. For example, when the first and secondhousings 101 and 102 are folded at 90 degrees, the first beam expansionunit 110 disposed in the first housing 101 may form an angle of 90degrees with respect to the second beam expansion unit 160 disposed inthe second housing 102. Therefore, the light traveling from the firstbeam expansion unit 110 to the second beam expansion unit 160 may beincident on the fourth input coupler 113 without the fifth mirror 155.Therefore, as illustrated in FIG. 5, the fifth mirror 155 may rotate inorder not to block the light traveling to the second beam expansion unit160 and may be deviated from a traveling path of the light. Furthermore,in order for the light from the first beam expansion unit 110 to beincident on the fourth input coupler 113 at a suitable angle, a tiltangle of the fifth mirror 155 may be adjusted according to a relativeangle between the first and second beam expansion units 110 and 160.

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view in a width direction of a holographicdisplay device according to another exemplary embodiment. In particular,FIG. 6 illustrates a cross-section taken in a y direction of the firstinput coupler 133 a and the first output coupler 141 of the first beamexpansion unit 110. Referring to FIG. 6, the first beam expansion unit110 may include two first horizontal beam deflectors 131 a, two firstvertical beam deflectors 132 a, and two first input couplers 133 a thatare respectively disposed first and second edges of the upper surface ofthe light guide plate 111.

In the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 3, the first horizontal beamdeflector 131 a, the first vertical beam deflector 132 a, and the firstinput coupler 133 a are disposed on a single edge of the first lightguide plate 111, and make the two light beams L1 and L2 travel alongpaths having different angles by using a liquid crystal deflector.However, according to the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 6, the firstlight source unit 120 a may make the two light beams L1 and L2, and mayprovide the first light beam L1 to a right side of the first light guideplate 111 and may provide the second light beam L2 to a left side of thefirst light guide plate 111. For example, the first light source unit120 a may divide an output terminal of the first light transmissionmember 122 a into two or may divide light into the two light beams L1and L2 by using a half mirror or a beam splitter. Therefore, the firstlight beam L1 may be emitted by the first output coupler 141 aftertraveling in a right-to-left direction in the first light guide plate111, and the second light beam L2 may be emitted by the second outputcoupler 142 after traveling in a left-to-right direction in the firstlight guide plate 111. In this case, it is also possible to use agalvano-mirror instead of a liquid crystal deflector for the firsthorizontal beam deflector 131 a and the first vertical beam deflector132 a. Furthermore, a liquid crystal deflector may be used for the firsthorizontal beam deflector 131 a and the first vertical beam deflector132 a to reduce a thickness of a backlight unit.

Meanwhile, the embodiment of FIG. 2 illustrates that the light sourceunits 120 a to 120 c are disposed in the same side surface of the firstlight guide plate 111, and thus, the horizontal beam deflectors 131 a to131 c, the vertical beam deflectors 132 a to 132 c, and the inputcouplers 133 a to 133 c are disposed in the same side surface of thefirst light guide plate 111. However, the light source units 120 a to120 c may be distributed to two opposite side surfaces of the firstlight guide plate 111.

For example, FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a configuration of aholographic display device according to another exemplary embodiment.Referring to FIG. 7, the first and third light source units 120 a and120 c may be disposed on a right side of the first light guide plate111, and the second light source unit 120 b may be disposed on a leftside of the first light guide plate 111. Therefore, the first and thirdhorizontal beam deflectors 131 a and 131 c, the first and third verticalbeam deflectors 132 a and 132 c, and the first and third input couplers133 a and 133 c may be disposed on the right side of the first lightguide plate 111. Furthermore, the second horizontal beam deflector 131b, the second vertical beam deflector 132 b, and the second inputcoupler 133 b may be disposed on the left side of the first light guideplate 111.

According to the exemplary embodiment described above, the first andsecond beam expansion units 110 and 160 are disposed in the same plane.However, it is possible to stack the first and second beam expansionunits 110 and 160. For example, FIG. 8 is a perspective view of aconfiguration of a holographic display device according to anotherexemplary embodiment. Referring to FIG. 8, the first beam expansion unit110 may be disposed under the second beam expansion unit 160. Inparticular, the first beam expansion unit 110 may face the fourth inputcoupler 113 under the second beam expansion unit 160.

Furthermore, the first beam expansion unit 110 may include first throughthird wavelength beam expansion units 110 a to 110 c divided accordingto respective wavelengths and stacked. The first wavelength beamexpansion unit 110 a converts the light of the first wavelength providedfrom the first light source unit 120 a into light with a line-shapedcross section by expanding in a width direction, that is, a y direction.Furthermore, the second wavelength beam expansion unit 110 b convertsthe light of the second wavelength provided from the second light sourceunit 120 b into light with a line-shaped cross section by expanding in awidth direction, and the third wavelength beam expansion unit 110 cconverts the light of the third wavelength provided from the third lightsource unit 120 c into light with a line-shaped cross section byexpanding in a width direction.

The first wavelength beam expansion unit 110 a may include a firstwavelength light guide plate 111 a, the first input coupler 133 a andthe first output coupler 141 disposed on an upper surface of the firstwavelength light guide plate 111 a, and the fourth mirror 151 disposedon a lower surface of the first wavelength light guide plate 111 a. Mostof the light of the first wavelength is emitted from the upper surfaceof the first wavelength light guide plate 111 a by the first outputcoupler 141, but a portion of the light may be emitted from the lowersurface of the first wavelength light guide plate 111 a. The fourthmirror 151 may improve light use efficiency by reflecting the lightemitted from the lower surface of the first wavelength light guide plate111 a. Alternatively, the first output coupler 141 may reflect light tothe lower surface of the first wavelength light guide plate 111 a, andthe fourth mirror 151 may reflect the light emitted from the lowersurface of the first wavelength light guide plate 111 a.

The second wavelength beam expansion unit 110 b may be disposedimmediately above the first wavelength beam expansion unit 110 a. Thesecond wavelength beam expansion unit 110 b may include a secondwavelength light guide plate 111 b, the second input coupler 133 b andthe second output coupler 142 disposed on an upper surface of the secondwavelength light guide plate 111 b, and the first dichroic mirror 152disposed on a lower surface of the second wavelength light guide plate111 b. Most of the light of the second wavelength is emitted from theupper surface of the second wavelength light guide plate 111 b by thesecond output coupler 142, but a portion of the light may be emittedfrom the lower surface of the second wavelength light guide plate 111 b.The first dichroic mirror 152 may improve light use efficiency byreflecting the light of the second wavelength emitted from the lowersurface of the second wavelength light guide plate 111 b. Furthermore,the first dichroic mirror 152 may transmit the light of the firstwavelength from the first wavelength beam expansion unit 110 a.Alternatively, the second output coupler 142 may reflect light to thelower surface of the second wavelength light guide plate 111 b, and thefirst dichroic mirror 152 may reflect the light emitted from the lowersurface of the second wavelength light guide plate 111 b.

The third wavelength beam expansion unit 110 c may be disposedimmediately above the second wavelength beam expansion unit 110 b. Thethird wavelength beam expansion unit 110 c may include a thirdwavelength light guide plate 111 c, the third input coupler 133 c andthe third output coupler 142 disposed on an upper surface of the thirdwavelength light guide plate 111 c, and the second dichroic mirror 153disposed on a lower surface of the third wavelength light guide plate111 c. Most of the light of the third wavelength is emitted from theupper surface of the third wavelength light guide plate 111 c by thethird output coupler 143, but a portion of the light may be emitted fromthe lower surface of the third wavelength light guide plate 111 c. Thesecond dichroic mirror 153 may improve light use efficiency byreflecting the light of the third wavelength emitted from the lowersurface of the third wavelength light guide plate 111 c. Furthermore,the second dichroic mirror 153 may transmit the light of the first andsecond wavelengths from the first and second wavelength beam expansionunits 110 a and 110 b. Alternatively, the third output coupler 143 mayreflect light to the lower surface of the third wavelength light guideplate 111 c, and the second dichroic mirror 153 may reflect the lightemitted from the lower surface of the third wavelength light guide plate111 c.

In the stack structures, the first, second, and third light source units120 a to 120 c may be alternately disposed on first and second sidesurfaces of the first beam expansion unit 110 so as to reduce thethicknesses of the backlight unit and the holographic display device.For example, the first light source unit 120 a may be disposed on aright side of the first wavelength beam expansion unit 110 a, the secondlight source unit 120 b may be disposed on a left side of the secondwavelength beam expansion unit 110 b, and the third light source unit120 c may be disposed on a right side of the third wavelength beamexpansion unit 110 c. Therefore, the first horizontal beam deflector 131a, the first vertical beam deflector 132 a, and the first input coupler133 a may be disposed on the right side of the first wavelength lightguide plate 111 a, the second horizontal beam deflector 131 b, thesecond vertical beam deflector 132 b, and the second input coupler 133 bmay be disposed on the left side of the second wavelength light guideplate 111 b, and the third horizontal beam deflector 131 c, the thirdvertical beam deflector 132 c, and the third input coupler 133 c may bedisposed on the right side of the third wavelength light guide plate 111c.

Furthermore, the positions of first, second, and third wavelength lightguide plates 111 a to 111 c may be shifted toward the first, second, andthird light source units 120 a to 120 c, respectively. For example, thefirst and third wavelength light guide plates 111 a and 110 c may eachbe shifted rightward, and the second wavelength light guide plate 111 bmay be shifted leftward. As a result, spaces for each of the firsthorizontal beam deflector 131 a and the first vertical beam deflector132 a, and the third horizontal beam deflector 131 c and the thirdvertical beam deflector 132 c may be provided as the first and thirdwavelength light guide plates 111 a and 110 c protrude rightward.Furthermore, spaces for each of the second vertical beam deflector 132 band the second input coupler 133 b may be provided as the secondwavelength light guide plate 111 b protrudes leftward. The positions ofthe first, second, and third output couplers 141 to 143 may not beshifted even if the positions of the first, second, and third wavelengthlight guide plates 111 a to 111 c are shifted in the above-describedmanner. For example, the first, second, and third output couplers 141 to143 may overlap the fourth input coupler 113 of the second light guideplate 112, as seen from above. Therefore, the light of the first,second, and third wavelengths, respectively emitted by the first,second, and third output couplers 141 to 143 may be incident on thefourth input coupler 113 without loss.

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view in a width direction of a holographicdisplay device according to another exemplary embodiment. In the samemanner as the exemplary embodiment of FIG. 8, the first beam expansionunit 110 and the second beam expansion unit 160 are stacked in theholographic display device of FIG. 9. However, in the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 9, each of the first, second, and third light sourceunits 120 a to 120 c are disposed on the same side surface of the firstbeam expansion unit 110, in contrast to the arrangement of the exemplaryembodiment of FIG. 8. For example, the first, second, and third lightsource units 120 a to 120 c may be disposed on the left side of thefirst, second, and third wavelength beam expansion units 110 a to 110 c,respectively.

In such an arrangement, the lower light guide plate may further protrudeleftward to reduce thicknesses of the backlight unit and the holographicdisplay device. For example, the second wavelength light guide plate 111b, disposed under the third wavelength light guide plate 111 c, may belonger than the third wavelength light guide plate 111 c and mayprotrude further leftward than the third wavelength light guide plate.Furthermore, the first wavelength light guide plate 111 a, disposedunder the second wavelength light guide plate 111 b, may be the longestof the first, second, and third wavelength light guide plates, and mayprotrude further leftward than the second wavelength light guide plate111 b. Each of the first, second, and third output couplers 141 to 143may overlap the fourth input coupler 113 of the second light guide plate112 in a view as seen from above.

It should be understood that exemplary embodiments described hereinshould be considered in a descriptive sense only and not for purposes oflimitation. Descriptions of features or aspects within each exemplaryembodiment should typically be considered as available for other similarfeatures or aspects in other exemplary embodiments.

While one or more exemplary embodiments have been described withreference to the figures, it will be understood by those of ordinaryskill in the art that various changes in form and details may be madetherein without departing from the spirit and scope as defined by thefollowing claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A backlight unit comprising: a light sourceconfigured to emit light; a first beam expander configured to expand thelight emitted from the light source in a first direction, the first beamexpander comprising a first light guide plate which transmits lightincident thereon, a first input coupler, and a first output coupler; asecond beam expander configured to expand the light output from thefirst beam expander in a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection, the second beam expander comprising a second light guideplate which transmits light incident thereon; a horizontal beamdeflector configured to deflect the light in a horizontal direction, thehorizontal beam deflector being disposed on an optical path between thelight source and the first input coupler; and a vertical beam deflectorconfigured to deflect the light in a vertical direction, the verticalbeam deflector being disposed on an optical path between the lightsource and the horizontal beam deflector or between the horizontal beamdeflector and the first input coupler, wherein one of the horizontalbeam deflector and the vertical beam deflector is configured to form afirst light beam and a second light beam by diffracting the light suchthat the first light beam and the second light beam are simultaneouslyincident on the first input coupler at different angles, traveling inthe first light guide plate at different angles, and simultaneouslyoutput from the first output coupler at different angles.
 2. Thebacklight unit of claim 1, wherein the first input coupler is disposedon a first region of an upper surface of the first light guide plate andthe first output coupler is disposed on a second region of the uppersurface of the first light guide plate, and wherein the first region isadjacent to the second region in the first direction and is notoverlapped with the second region in the first direction.
 3. Thebacklight unit of claim 1, wherein the first beam expander furthercomprises a first mirror configured to reflect the first light beam andthe second light beam output from the first output coupler.
 4. Thebacklight unit of claim 3, wherein the second beam expander comprises: asecond input coupler configured to transmit the first light beam and thesecond light beam output from the first beam expander into the secondlight guide plate; and a second output coupler configured to emit thefirst light beam and the second light beam from the second light guideplate.
 5. The backlight unit of claim 4, wherein the second beamexpander further comprises a second mirror configured to reflect thefirst light beam and the second light beam output from the first beamexpander into the second input coupler of the second beam expander.
 6. Aholographic display device comprising: a light source configured to emitlight; a first beam expander configured to expand the light emitted fromthe light source in a first direction, the first beam expandercomprising a first light guide plate which transmits light incidentthereon, an input coupler, and an output coupler; a second beam expanderconfigured to expand the light output from the first beam expander in asecond direction perpendicular to the first direction, the second beamexpander comprising a second light guide plate which transmits lightincident thereon; a horizontal beam deflector configured to deflect thelight in a horizontal direction, the horizontal beam deflector beingdisposed on an optical path between the light source and the inputcoupler; a vertical beam deflector configured to deflect the light in avertical direction, the vertical beam deflector being disposed on anoptical path between the light source and the horizontal beam deflectoror between the horizontal beam deflector and the input coupler, whereinone of the horizontal beam deflector and the vertical beam deflector isconfigured to form a first light beam and a second light beam bydiffracting the light such that the first light beam and the secondlight beam are simultaneously incident on the input coupler at differentangles, traveling in the first light guide plate at different angles,and simultaneously output from the output coupler at different angles; aspatial light modulator configured to diffract the first light beamcoming from the second beam expander and thereby reproduce a firsthologram image having a first viewpoint, and diffract the second lightbeam coming from the second beam expander and thereby reproduce a secondhologram image having a second viewpoint different from the firstviewpoint; and a field lens configured to focus the first hologram imageand the second hologram image, output from the spatial light modulator,onto different spaces, wherein the first light beam and the second lightbeam are simultaneously provided to the spatial light modulator, andwherein the first hologram image and the second hologram image arerespectively provided to a first viewing zone and a second viewing zonedifferent from the first viewing zone.
 7. A backlight unit comprising: alight source configured to provide a first light beam and a second lightbeam; a first beam expander configured to expand the first light beamand the second light beam in a first direction, the first beam expandercomprising a first light guide plate which transmits the first lightbeam and the second light beam; a second beam expander configured toexpand the first light beam and the second light beam output from thefirst beam expander in a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection, the second beam expander comprising a second light guideplate which transmits the first light beam and the second light beam; afirst beam deflector disposed on an optical path of the first light beambetween the light source and the first beam expander, the first beamdeflector being configured to two-dimensionally control a path of thefirst light beam; and a second beam deflector disposed on an opticalpath of the second light beam between the light source and the firstbeam expander, the second beam deflector being configured totwo-dimensionally control a path of the second light beam, the path ofthe second light beam being different from the path of the first lightbeam, wherein the first beam expander comprises: a first input couplerconfigured to transmit the first light beam into the first light guideplate; a second input coupler configured to transmit the second lightbeam into the first light guide plate; and a first output couplerconfigured to emit the first light beam and the second light beam fromthe first light guide plate, wherein the first input coupler is disposedon an upper surface of the first light guide plate to face the firstbeam deflector, wherein the second input coupler is disposed on theupper surface of the first light guide plate to face the second beamdeflector, and wherein the first output coupler is disposed on the uppersurface of the first light guide plate between the first input couplerand the second input coupler.
 8. The backlight unit of claim 7, whereinthe first beam expander further comprises a first mirror configured toreflect the first light beam and the second light beam output from thefirst output coupler.
 9. The backlight unit of claim 8, wherein thesecond beam expander comprises: a third input coupler configured totransmit the first light beam and the second light beam output from thefirst beam expander into the second light guide plate; and a secondoutput coupler configured to emit the first light beam and the secondlight beam from the second light guide plate.
 10. The backlight unit ofclaim 9, wherein the second beam expander further comprises a secondmirror configured to reflect the first light beam and the second lightbeam output from the first beam expander into the third input coupler ofthe second beam expander.
 11. The backlight unit of claim 7, wherein thefirst beam deflector comprises a first horizontal beam deflector and afirst vertical beam deflector, and the second beam deflector comprises asecond horizontal beam deflector and a second vertical beam deflector.12. The backlight unit of claim 11, wherein the first horizontal beamdeflector and the first vertical beam deflector are disposed over afirst edge of the upper surface of the first light guide plate; and thesecond horizontal beam deflector and the second vertical beam deflectorare disposed over a second edge of the upper surface of the first lightguide plate.
 13. A holographic display device comprising: a light sourceconfigured to provide a first light beam and a second light beam; afirst beam expander configured to expand the first light beam and thesecond light beam in a first direction, the first beam expandercomprising a first light guide plate which transmits the first lightbeam and the second light beam; a second beam expander configured toexpand the first light beam and the second light beam output from thefirst beam expander in a second direction perpendicular to the firstdirection, the second beam expander comprising a second light guideplate which transmits the first light beam and the second light beam; afirst beam deflector disposed on an optical path of the first light beambetween the light source and the first beam expander, the first beamdeflector being configured to two-dimensionally control a path of thefirst light beam; a second beam deflector disposed on an optical path ofthe second light beam between the light source and the first beamexpander, the second beam deflector being configured totwo-dimensionally control a path of the second light beam, the path ofthe second light beam being different from the path of the first lightbeam; a spatial light modulator configured to diffract the first lightbeam coming from the second beam expander and thereby reproduce a firsthologram image, and diffract the second light beam coming from thesecond beam expander and thereby reproduce a second hologram image; anda field lens configured to focus the first hologram image and the secondhologram image, output from the spatial light modulator, onto differentspaces, wherein the first beam expander comprises: a first input couplerconfigured to transmit the first light beam into the first light guideplate; a second input coupler configured to transmit the second lightbeam into the first light guide plate; and an output coupler configuredto emit the first light beam and the second light beam from the firstlight guide plate, wherein the first input coupler is disposed on anupper surface of the first light guide plate to face the first beamdeflector, wherein the second input coupler is disposed on the uppersurface of the first light guide plate to face the second beamdeflector, and wherein the output coupler is disposed on the uppersurface of the first light guide plate between the first input couplerand the second input coupler.